Kim Stanley Robinson's vision to become reality?

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by razark

Think of it this way, you only have to count on the rocket working for half the time of a round trip.

Not really, for a one way flight its more like having the rocket work only 75% of the effort necessary for a two way flight since Mars had 1/2 of Earth's gravity.

... assuming you launch from the Earth's surface that is. If the spacecraft just goes orbit to orbit its very easy, its the surface to orbit part that is hard especially from Earth's surface to orbit.